Quick login to user profile on exercise machine

ABSTRACT

A personal mobile device such as a music player or mobile telephone is equipped with the capability to easily authenticate users into a public gym and into individual exercise equipment at the gym.

This application claims priority to U.S. provisional patent applicationSer. No. 61/878,835, filed Sep. 17, 2013.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present application relates generally to digital ecosystems that areconfigured for use when engaging in physical activity and/or fitnessexercises.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Society is becoming increasingly health-conscious. A wide variety ofexercise and workouts are now offered to encourage people to stay fitthrough exercise. As understood herein, while stationary exerciseequipment often comes equipped with data displays for the information ofthe exerciser, the information is not tailored to the individual and isfrequently repetitive and monotonous. As further understood herein,people enjoy listening to music as workout aids but the music typicallyis whatever is broadcast within a gymnasium or provided on a recordingdevice the user may wear, again being potentially monotonous andunchanging in pattern and beat in a way that is uncoupled from theactual exercise being engaged in.

Furthermore, a user may wish to tie his or her performance and/orworkout music to a particular exercise machine, to record the workoutand add it to a workout history. This can require manual login with auser name and password on each machine the user seeks to employ, whichis repetitive and frustrating.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Present principles provide a music player such as a Walkman® or MP3player to enable easy authentication to enter a gymnasium (“gym”) toautomatically confirm that the individual is a member and has access tothe gym. This may done using a near field communication (NFC) methodthat employs, for example, Bluetooth or radio frequency identification(RFID). By using a connection method such as NFC, individuals can usetheir music player to quickly set the exercise equipment to theirpersonal account, which can be stored on a remote server for easy accessvia multiple devices and locations. The user's personal account caninclude information such as workout/exercise history, exercise plan,workout goals, and basic user information such as heart rate targetzones, weight, height, age, and gender. In addition, the account can belinked to the individual's personal media library, which can then bestreamed wirelessly to their headphones so that there is no need for themusic to be locally stored on the music player. Following the workout,the equipment sends workout data to the individual's personal account,which may be stored on an Internet server.

Accordingly, present principles avoid requiring a person to manuallytype in a username and password into every exercise machine the personemploys, simplifying the experience of being in a gym with multiplepieces of equipment, since logging in to a machine (and to the gymentrance itself) is simply and quickly done using NFC. Presentprinciples also make it easier to collect and store exercise data, sothe individual can more easily have a complete picture of theiractivity.

In an aspect, a device includes a computer readable storage mediumbearing instructions executable by a processor, and a processorconfigured for accessing the computer readable storage medium to executethe instructions to configure the processor for providing identifyingdata of a user automatically to an exercise facility using near fieldcommunication (NFC) facilitated by an NFC element communicating with theprocessor as the user enters the facility. The processor also providesidentifying data of the user automatically to at least one exercisemachine in the exercise facility using NFC.

In another aspect, a system for an exercise facility has one or morecomputer readable storage media bearing instructions executable by aprocessor, and one or more processors each being configured foraccessing at least one of the one or more computer readable storagemedia to execute the instructions to configure the processors forreceiving identifying data of a user automatically using near fieldcommunication (NFC) facilitated by at least one NFC elementcommunicating with the one or more processor as the user enters thefacility. The one or more processors also receive identifying data ofthe user automatically at one or more exercise machines in the exercisefacility using NFC.

In another aspect, a method includes authenticating a user device at anexercise facility using NFC, and automatically locking out exercisemachines at the exercise facility for exclusive use of a user of theuser device at specific times based at least in part on informationreceived using NFC.

The details of the present invention, both as to its structure andoperation, can best be understood in reference to the accompanyingdrawings, in which like reference numerals refer to like parts, and inwhich:

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an example system including an example CEdevice in accordance with present principles;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of an example system including a specificexample CE device embodied as a music player in accordance with presentprinciples; and

FIG. 3 illustrates logic that can be executed by various processorsshown in FIG. 2.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

This disclosure relates generally to consumer electronics (CE) devicebased user information. With respect to any computer systems discussedherein, a system herein may include server and client components,connected over a network such that data may be exchanged between theclient and server components. The client components may include one ormore computing devices including portable televisions (e.g. smart TVs,Internet-enabled TVs), portable computers such as laptops and tabletcomputers, and other mobile devices including smart phones andadditional examples discussed below. These client devices may employ, asnon-limiting examples, operating systems from Apple, Google, orMicrosoft. A Unix operating system may be used. These operating systemscan execute one or more browsers such as a browser made by Microsoft orGoogle or Mozilla or other browser program that can access webapplications hosted by the Internet servers over a network such as theInternet, a local intranet, or a virtual private network.

As used herein, instructions refer to computer-implemented steps forprocessing information in the system. Instructions can be implemented insoftware, firmware or hardware; hence, illustrative components, blocks,modules, circuits, and steps are set forth in terms of theirfunctionality.

A processor may be any conventional general purpose single- ormulti-chip processor that can execute logic by means of various linessuch as address lines, data lines, and control lines and registers andshift registers. Moreover, any logical blocks, modules, and circuitsdescribed herein can be implemented or performed, in addition to ageneral purpose processor, in or by a digital signal processor (DSP), afield programmable gate array (FPGA) or other programmable logic devicesuch as an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), discrete gateor transistor logic, discrete hardware components, or any combinationthereof designed to perform the functions described herein. A processorcan be implemented by a controller or state machine or a combination ofcomputing devices.

Any software modules described by way of flow charts and/or userinterfaces herein can include various sub-routines, procedures, etc. Itis to be understood that logic divulged as being executed by a modulecan be redistributed to other software modules and/or combined togetherin a single module and/or made available in a shareable library.

Logic when implemented in software, can be written in an appropriatelanguage such as but not limited to C# or C++, and can be stored on ortransmitted through a computer-readable storage medium such as a randomaccess memory (RAM), read-only memory (ROM), electrically erasableprogrammable read-only memory (EEPROM), compact disk read-only memory(CD-ROM) or other optical disk storage such as digital versatile disc(DVD), magnetic disk storage or other magnetic storage devices includingremovable thumb drives, etc. A connection may establish acomputer-readable medium. Such connections can include, as examples,hard-wired cables including fiber optics and coaxial wires and digitalsubscriber line (DSL) and twisted pair wires. Such connections mayinclude wireless communication connections including infrared and radio.

In an example, a processor can access information over its input linesfrom data storage, such as the computer readable storage medium, and/orthe processor accesses information wirelessly from an Internet server byactivating a wireless transceiver to send and receive data. Datatypically is converted from analog signals to digital and then to binaryby circuitry between the antenna and the registers of the processor whenbeing received and from binary to digital to analog when beingtransmitted. The processor then processes the data through its shiftregisters to output calculated data on output lines, for presentation ofthe calculated data on the CE device.

Components included in one embodiment can be used in other embodimentsin any appropriate combination. For example, any of the variouscomponents described herein and/or depicted in the Figures may becombined, interchanged or excluded from other embodiments.

“A system having at least one of A, B, and C” (likewise “a system havingat least one of A, B, or C” and “a system having at least one of A, B,C”) includes systems that have A alone, B alone, C alone, A and Btogether, A and C together, B and C together, and/or A, B, and Ctogether, etc.

Before describing FIG. 1, it is to be understood that the CE devices andsoftware described herein are understood to be usable in the context ofa digital ecosystem. Thus, as understood herein, a computer ecosystem,or digital ecosystem, may be an adaptive and distributed socio-technicalsystem that is characterized by its sustainability, self-organization,and scalability. Inspired by environmental ecosystems, which consist ofbiotic and abiotic components that interact through nutrient cycles andenergy flows, complete computer ecosystems consist of hardware,software, and services that in some cases may be provided by onecompany, such as Sony Electronics. The goal of each computer ecosystemis to provide consumers with everything that may be desired, at least inpart services and/or software that may be exchanged via the Internet.Moreover, interconnectedness and sharing among elements of an ecosystem,such as applications within a computing cloud, provides consumers withincreased capability to organize and access data and presents itself asthe future characteristic of efficient integrative ecosystems.

Two general types of computer ecosystems exist: vertical and horizontalcomputer ecosystems. In the vertical approach, virtually all aspects ofthe ecosystem are associated with the same company (e.g. produced by thesame manufacturer), and are specifically designed to seamlessly interactwith one another. Horizontal ecosystems, one the other hand, integrateaspects such as hardware and software that are created by differingentities into one unified ecosystem. The horizontal approach allows forgreater variety of input from consumers and manufactures, increasing thecapacity for novel innovations and adaptations to changing demands. Butregardless, it is to be understood that some digital ecosystems,including those referenced herein, may embody characteristics of boththe horizontal and vertical ecosystems described above.

Accordingly, it is to be further understood that these ecosystems may beused while engaged in physical activity to e.g. provide inspiration,goal fulfillment and/or achievement, automated coaching/training, healthand exercise analysis, convenient access to data, group sharing (e.g. offitness data), and increased accuracy of health monitoring, all whiledoing so in a stylish and entertaining manner. Further still, thedevices disclosed herein are understood to be capable of makingdiagnostic determinations based on data from various sensors (such asthose described below in reference to FIG. 1) for use while exercising,for exercise monitoring (e.g. in real time), and/or for sharing of datawith friends (e.g. using a social networking service) even when not allpeople have the same types and combinations of sensors on theirrespective CE devices.

Thus, it is to be understood that the CE devices described herein mayallow for easy and simplified user interaction with the device so as tonot be unduly bothersome or encumbering e.g. before, during, and afteran exercise.

Now specifically referring to FIG. 1, an example system 10 is shown,which may include one or more of the example devices mentioned above anddescribed further below to enhance fitness experiences in accordancewith present principles. The first of the example devices included inthe system 10 is an example consumer electronics (CE) device 12 that maybe waterproof (e.g., for use while swimming). The CE device 12 may be,e.g., a computerized Internet enabled (“smart”) telephone, a tablet,computer, a notebook computer, a wearable computerized device such ase.g. computerized Internet-enabled watch, a computerizedInternet-enabled bracelet, other computerized Internet-enabled fitnessdevices, a computerized Internet-enabled music player, computerizedInternet-enabled head phones, a computerized Internet-enabledimplantable device such as an implantable skin device, etc., and evene.g. a computerized Internet-enabled television (TV). Regardless, it isto be understood that the CE device 12 is configured to undertakepresent principles (e.g. communicate with other CE devices to undertakepresent principles, execute the logic described herein, and perform anyother functions and/or operations described herein).

Accordingly, to undertake such principles the CE device 12 can includesome or all of the components shown in FIG. 1. For example, the CEdevice 12 can include one or more touch-enabled displays 14, one or morespeakers 16 for outputting audio in accordance with present principles,and at least one additional input device 18 such as e.g. an audioreceiver/microphone for e.g. entering audible commands to the CE device12 to control the CE device 12. The example CE device 12 may alsoinclude one or more network interfaces 20 for communication over atleast one network 22 such as the Internet, an WAN, an LAN, etc. undercontrol of one or more processors 24. It is to be understood that theprocessor 24 controls the CE device 12 to undertake present principles,including the other elements of the CE device 12 described herein suchas e.g. controlling the display 14 to present images thereon andreceiving input therefrom. Furthermore, note the network interface 20may be, e.g., a wired or wireless modem or router, or other appropriateinterface such as, e.g., a wireless telephony transceiver, WiFitransceiver, etc.

In addition to the foregoing, the CE device 12 may also include one ormore input ports 26 such as, e.g., a USB port to physically connect(e.g. using a wired connection) to another CE device and/or a headphoneport to connect headphones to the CE device 12 for presentation of audiofrom the CE device 12 to a user through the headphones. The CE device 12may further include one or more tangible computer readable storagemedium 28 such as disk-based or solid state storage, it being understoodthat the computer readable storage medium 28 may not be a carrier wave.Also in some embodiments, the CE device 12 can include a position orlocation receiver such as but not limited to a GPS receiver and/oraltimeter 30 that is configured to e.g. receive geographic positioninformation from at least one satellite and provide the information tothe processor 24 and/or determine an altitude at which the CE device 12is disposed in conjunction with the processor 24. However, it is to beunderstood that that another suitable position receiver other than a GPSreceiver and/or altimeter may be used in accordance with presentprinciples to e.g. determine the location of the CE device 12 in e.g.all three dimensions.

Continuing the description of the CE device 12, in some embodiments theCE device 12 may include one or more scameras 32 that may be, e.g., athermal imaging camera, a digital camera such as a webcam, and/or acamera integrated into the CE device 12 and controllable by theprocessor 24 to gather pictures/images and/or video in accordance withpresent principles (e.g. to share aspects of a physical activity such ashiking with social networking friends). Also included on the CE device12 may be a Bluetooth transceiver 34 and other Near Field Communication(NFC) element 36 for communication with other devices using Bluetoothand/or NFC technology, respectively. An example NFC element can be aradio frequency identification (RFID) element.

Further still, the CE device 12 may include one or more motion sensors37 (e.g., an accelerometer, gyroscope, cyclometer, magnetic sensor,infrared (IR) motion sensors such as passive IR sensors, an opticalsensor, a speed and/or cadence sensor, a gesture sensor (e.g. forsensing gesture command), etc.) providing input to the processor 24. TheCE device 12 may include still other sensors such as e.g. one or moreclimate sensors 38 (e.g. barometers, humidity sensors, wind sensors,light sensors, temperature sensors, etc.) and/or one or more biometricsensors 40 (e.g. heart rate sensors and/or heart monitors, caloriecounters, blood pressure sensors, perspiration sensors, odor and/orscent detectors, fingerprint sensors, facial recognition sensors, irisand/or retina detectors, DNA sensors, oxygen sensors (e.g. blood oxygensensors and/or VO2 max sensors), glucose and/or blood sugar sensors,sleep sensors (e.g. a sleep tracker), pedometers and/or speed sensors,body temperature sensors, nutrient and metabolic rate sensors, voicesensors, lung input/output and other cardiovascular sensors, etc.) alsoproviding input to the processor 24. In addition to the foregoing, it isnoted that in some embodiments the CE device 12 may also include akinetic energy harvester 42 to e.g. charge a battery (not shown)powering the CE device 12.

Still referring to FIG. 1, in addition to the CE device 12, the system10 may include one or more other CE device types such as, but notlimited to, a computerized Internet-enabled bracelet 44, computerizedInternet-enabled headphones and/or ear buds 46, computerizedInternet-enabled clothing 48, a computerized Internet-enabled exercisemachine 50 (e.g. a treadmill, exercise bike, elliptical machine, etc.),etc. Also shown is a computerized Internet-enabled gymnasium entry kiosk52 permitting authorized entry to a gymnasium housing the exercisemachine 50. It is to be understood that other CE devices included in thesystem 10 including those described in this paragraph may respectivelyinclude some or all of the various components described above inreference to the CE device 12 such but not limited to e.g. the biometricsensors and motion sensors described above, as well as the positionreceivers, cameras, input devices, and speakers also described above.

Thus, for instance, the headphones/ear buds 46 may include a heart ratesensor configured to sense a person's heart rate when a person iswearing the head phones, the clothing 48 may include sensors such asperspiration sensors, climate sensors, and heart sensors for measuringthe intensity of a person's workout, and the exercise machine 50 mayinclude a camera mounted on a portion thereof for gathering facialimages of a user so that the machine 50 may thereby determine whether aparticular facial expression is indicative of a user struggling to keepthe pace set by the exercise machine 50 and/or an NFC element to e.g.pair the machine 50 with the CE device 12 and hence access a database ofpreset workout routines, and the kiosk 52 may include an NFC elementpermitting entry to a person authenticated as being authorized for entrybased on input received from a complimentary NFC element (such as e.g.the NFC element 36 on the device 12). Also note that all of the devicesdescribed in reference to FIG. 1, including a server 54 to be describedshortly, may communicate with each other over the network 22 using arespective network interface included thereon, and may each also includea computer readable storage medium that may not be a carrier wave forstoring logic and/or software code in accordance with presentprinciples.

Now in reference to the afore-mentioned at least one server 54, itincludes at least one processor 56, at least one tangible computerreadable storage medium 58 that may not be a carrier wave such asdisk-based or solid state storage, and at least one network interface 60that, under control of the processor 56, allows for communication withthe other CE devices of FIG. 1 over the network 22, and indeed mayfacilitate communication therebetween in accordance with presentprinciples. Note that the network interface 60 may be, e.g., a wired orwireless modem or router, WiFi transceiver, or other appropriateinterface such as, e.g., a wireless telephony transceiver.

Accordingly, in some embodiments the server 54 may be an Internetserver, may facilitate fitness coordination and/or data exchange betweenCE device devices in accordance with present principles, and may includeand perform “cloud” functions such that the CE devices of the system 10may access a “cloud” environment via the server 54 in exampleembodiments to e.g. stream music to listen to while exercising and/orpair two or more devices (e.g. to “throw” music from one device toanother).

FIG. 2 shows a specific CE device embodied as a music player 70 in a gymenvironment. The music player 70 may have a player processor 72accessing executable instructions on a computer readable storage medium74 to output music on speakers 76 and/or user-wearable headphones 78.The processor may also access music and other communication using anetwork interface 80 such as a WiFi transceiver or wireless telephonytransceiver. The processor may exchange information with other devicesthrough a near field communication (NFC) element 82 and may also presentvisual information on a display 84, which may be a touch screen display.

A person bearing the music player 70 may enter a gym by passing a gymentrance station 86 having an entrance processor 88 accessing executableinstructions on a computer readable storage medium 90. The entrancestation may be implemented as a kiosk, a desk, a barrier, etc. Theprocessor 88 may communicate with a network using a network interface 92such as a WiFi transceiver or wireless telephony transceiver. Theprocessor may exchange information with other devices through a nearfield communication (NFC) element 94.

The gym typically includes multiple exercise machines and one examplemachine 96 is shown in FIG. 2 for simplicity of disclosure. The machine96 may be without limitation a treadmill, elliptical machine, cyclemachine, rowing machine, weight machine, and the like. In the exampleshown the exercise machine 96 has a machine processor 98 accessingexecutable instructions on a computer readable storage medium 100 tooutput sound on speakers 102. The processor may also access music andother communication using a network interface 104 such as a WiFitransceiver or wireless telephony transceiver. The processor mayexchange information with other devices through a near fieldcommunication (NFC) element 106 and may also present visual informationon a display 108, which may be a touch screen display.

A biometric sensor 110 such as but not limited to a heart rate sensormay be included in the system shown and may be worn by the personbearing the music player 70, or it may be part of the music player 70,or it may be mounted on the exercise machine 96. In any case the sensor110 communicates biometric information via a wired or wireless link toone or more of the processors shown herein.

The components of FIG. 2 discussed above may communicate, via theirrespective network interfaces, with one or more cloud servers 112 usinga network such as the Internet. A server 112 typically includes one ormore server processors 114 accessing computer readable storage media116, and can communicate with other network components using acommunication interface 118.

FIG. 3 illustrates logic according to present principles. Commencing atblock 120, a user account is established for the person associated withthe music player 70. The user account may be established with gym andmay be accessible to both the user and the gym via the cloud, i.e., thedata in the user account may be stored locally at the gym and also on acloud server 112. The account data typically includes billing data andidentifying data of the user, as well as the user's exercise history,exercise preferences, music preferences/song list, exercise goals,exercise plan, preferred exercise machine settings, heart rate targetzones, weight, height, age, and gender. The account may established bymeans of the user providing the requisite information to a gym workerwho enters the account information into, e.g., the gym entrance station86, or the user may establish the account himself.

In any case, proceeding to block 122 the user may reserve use of one ormore exercise machines 96. In one example, the user does this byestablishing communication with the gym entrance station 86 or with acloud server associated with the gym using the music player 70 (or otheruser device), entering authentication information such as user name andpassword, and then accessing a reservation web page to select aparticular exercise machine(s) and time and date.

When the user is ready to exercise, the user enters the gym at block124. The user need not sign in or manually authenticate himself but needonly bring the NFC element 82 of the music player 70 near the NFCelement 94 of the gym entrance station 86 to establish a pairing betweenthe elements, with the respective processors 72, 88 exchanging necessarycheck in and authentication information through their respective NFCelements.

In response, the gym processor 88 may, at block 126, preload the user'spreferred settings onto one or more exercise machines 96. This can bedone by causing the relevant exercise machine processors 98 to access orreceive the user's profile information in the user account, either bysending the information to the exercise machine(s) from the entrancestation 86 via the network interfaces 92, 104 or from a cloud server 112over a network. In some embodiments the exercise machine(s) may storethe user setting data locally and simply be informed by the gym entrancestation that the user has arrived and to preload the user's settingsinto the machines.

Also, if desired the music player 70 and/or gym station 86 and/orexercise machine 96 can, by accessing the user profile or other datastructure, obtain the user's music preferences at block 128. When themusic player does this it typically accesses local memory to prepare toplay the songs the user has designated to be “workout songs” from a moregeneral user playlist. Or, the entire user playlist may be used. The gymentrance station 86 likewise can obtain the user's music preferencesfrom the user account (by way of accessing the music on the cloud server112, for example, by presenting credential information obtained duringNFC pairing) and play the user's song list on loudspeakers in the gym.

Proceeding to block 130, at the reservation time established at block122 the reserved exercise machine 96 locks itself out to other users,and can be activated only by a pairing being established between the NFCelements 82, 106. In other words, at the reservation time the reservedmachine 96 will not respond to any other NFC elements except the user'sNFC element 82 on the music player 70. This is possible because when theuser walks authenticates by NFC with the gym entrance station 86, thegym entrance station 86 can provide to the machine 96 the user's NFCcode, so the machine knows it is to unlock at reservation time only uponreceipt of the user's NFC code.

The user then places his music player 70 in proximity to the exercisemachine 96 at block 132 to establish an NFC pairing between the musicplayer and machine and unlock the machine. The workout commences and atblock 134 machine operational data reflecting the user's activity on themachine (RPMs, miles walked, pace, whether an interval program was used,etc.) as well as information from the biometric sensor 110 are uploadedcontinuously, periodically, or in a batch at the end of the workout tothe user's account via the network.

Block 136 indicates that if desired, either the machine currently beingused by the user or the gym entrance station 86 may, based on theexercise plan in the user's account, automatically reserve a nextexercise machine by communicating the reservation time over a network tothe next machine, which locks out users other than the current user atthe next machine reservation time. Or, the music player upon enteringthe gym entrance station may publish the exercise plan to the gymentrance station, which can immediately schedule various exercisemachine reservations based thereon. For example, the exercise plan mightindicate 15 minutes on machine “A” followed by 15 minutes on machine“B”, in which case when the gym network detects the user starting aworkout on machine “A”, machine “B” is alerted to lock itself out toother users starting in 15 minutes (i.e., when the plan indicates theuser will move to machine “B”).

At block 138 the current exercise machine 96 can prompt the user to moveto the next machine in the plan. This may be done by accessing theexercise plan and at the end of the planned period on the currentmachine, presenting a prompt on the visual display 108 or speakers 102that it is time for the user to move to the next machine. Also based onthe exercise plan and if desired goals and past exercise data in theuser account, at block 140 the current exercise machine 96 can promptthe user to work harder or easier, depending on signals from thebiometric sensor 110 (e.g., indicating a heart rate below or above,respective, the target zone indicated in the user account) and/or fromthe exercise machine operational data reflecting the user's activity onthe machine (indicating, e.g., whether the user is working unusuallyslow or fast, respectively, on the machine compared to the user'shistorical usage.)

While the particular QUICK LOGIN TO USER PROFILE ON EXERCISE MACHINE isherein shown and described in detail, it is to be understood that thesubject matter which is encompassed by the present invention is limitedonly by the claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A device comprising: at least one computerreadable storage medium bearing instructions executable by a processor;at least one processor configured for accessing the computer readablestorage medium to execute the instructions to configure the processorfor: providing identifying data of a user automatically to an exercisefacility using near field communication (NFC) facilitated by at leastone NFC element communicating with the processor as the user enters thefacility; and providing identifying data of the user automatically to atleast one exercise machine in the exercise facility using NFC.
 2. Thedevice of claim 1, wherein the processor when executing the instructionsis configured for: providing exercise information to at least oneprocessor in the exercise facility using NFC.
 3. The device of claim 2,wherein the exercise information includes a schedule of machine use inthe facility, and machines on the scheduled are automatically locked outto use by people other than the user according to the schedule ofmachine use.
 4. The device of claim 3, wherein the processor whenexecuting the instructions is configured for unlocking a first exercisemachine in the exercise facility by establishing NFC pairing with thefirst exercise machine.
 5. A system for an exercise facility comprising:one or more computer readable storage media bearing instructionsexecutable by a processor; one or more processors each being configuredfor accessing at least one of the one or more computer readable storagemedia to execute the instructions to configure the processors for:receiving identifying data of a user automatically using near fieldcommunication (NFC) facilitated by at least one NFC elementcommunicating with the one or more processor as the user enters thefacility; and receiving identifying data of the user automatically at atleast one exercise machine in the exercise facility using NFC.
 6. Thesystem of claim 5, wherein the one or more processors when executing theinstructions are configured for permitting the user to access thefacility based only upon receiving the identifying data via NFC withoutrequiring the user to manually sign in or manually authenticate himself.7. The system of claim 5, wherein at least one processor in the systemwhen executing the instructions is configured for preloading preferredsettings of the user onto one or more exercise machines in the systemresponsive to receiving identifying data of the user automatically usingNFC.
 8. The system of claim 5, wherein at least one processor in thesystem when executing the instructions is configured for playing musicfrom a play list associated with the user on at least one speaker in thefacility responsive to receiving identifying data of the userautomatically using NFC.
 9. The system of claim 5, wherein at least oneprocessor in the system when executing the instructions is configuredfor sending, to a user account, machine operational data reflecting theuser's activity on the machine, the user account being identified in theidentifying data of the user received automatically using NFC.
 10. Thesystem of claim 5, wherein at least one processor in the system whenexecuting the instructions is configured for, based on an exercise planin a user's account identified in the identifying data of the userreceived automatically using NFC, automatically reserving a nextexercise machine for use by the user.
 11. The system of claim 5, whereinat least one processor in the system when executing the instructions isconfigured for, based on an exercise plan in a user's account identifiedin the identifying data of the user received automatically using NFC,automatically prompting the user to move to a next machine in theexercise plan.
 12. A method comprising: authenticating a user device atan exercise facility using NFC; and automatically locking out exercisemachines at the exercise facility for exclusive use of a user of theuser device at specific times based at least in part on informationreceived using NFC.
 13. The method of claim 12, further comprising:permitting the user to access the exercise facility based only uponreceiving identifying data via NFC without requiring the user tomanually sign in or manually authenticate himself.
 14. The method ofclaim 12, further comprising: preloading preferred settings of the useronto one or more exercise machines in the exercise facility responsiveto receiving identifying data of the user automatically using NFC. 15.The method of claim 12, comprising playing music from a play listassociated with the user on at least one speaker in the exercisefacility responsive to receiving identifying data of the userautomatically using NFC.
 16. The method of claim 12, comprising sending,to a user account, machine operational data reflecting the user'sactivity on the machine, the user account being identified inidentifying data of the user received automatically using NFC.
 17. Themethod of claim 12, comprising, based on an exercise plan in a user'saccount identified in identifying data of the user receivedautomatically using NFC, automatically reserving a next exercise machinefor use by the user.
 18. The method of claim 12, comprising, based on anexercise plan in a user's account identified in identifying data of theuser received automatically using NFC, automatically prompting the userto move to a next machine in the exercise plan.